[[Gay marriage]] refers to [[marriage]] between two people of the same sex. This is currently a controversial political issue in the United States and elsewhere.

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'''Gay marriage''' refers to [[marriage]] between two people of the same [[sex]]. This is currently a controversial political issue in the United States and elsewhere.

== Arguments for gay marriage ==

== Arguments for gay marriage ==

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In July 2007, Austin Cline ran a [http://atheism.about.com/b/a/121240.htm poll] on his weblog asking whether atheists should be allowed to marry. Respondents overwhelmingly said that marriage is a civil institution, not a religious one (it should be kept in mind that this poll was posted on an atheist weblog, and therefore the distribution of respondents was certainly skewed).

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In July 2007, Austin Cline ran a poll on his weblog asking whether [[atheist]]s should be allowed to marry.[http://atheism.about.com/b/a/121240.htm] Respondents overwhelmingly said that marriage is a [[civil]] institution, not a [[religious]] one (it should be kept in mind that this poll was posted on an atheist weblog, and therefore the distribution of respondents was certainly skewed).

Cline then draws the obvious conclusion:

Cline then draws the obvious conclusion:

Line 9:

Line 10:

== Arguments against gay marriage ==

== Arguments against gay marriage ==

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Both religious and secular arguments have been presented against gay marriage. It is notable, however, that most of the opponents of gay marriage&mdash;certainly the most vocal ones&mdash;present religious arguments, either alone or in addition to secular arguments. Rarely if ever does anyone present secular arguments alone. This leads to the conclusion that opposition to gay marriage is primarily rooted in religious beliefs. Arguments from religious beliefs fail as arguments there is no evidence to suggest any holy book is true, and places like America have seperation of Church and State.

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Both religious and [[secular]] arguments have been presented against gay marriage. It is notable, however, that most of the opponents of gay marriage&mdash;certainly the most vocal ones&mdash;present religious arguments, either alone or in addition to secular arguments. Rarely, if ever, does anyone present secular arguments alone. This leads to the conclusion that opposition to gay marriage is primarily rooted in religious beliefs. Arguments from religious beliefs fail as arguments since there is no evidence to suggest any [[holy book]] is [[true]], and places like the United States have [[separation of church and state]].

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Another argument used agaisnt gay marriage, is the view that homosexuals, through faith in God and reparative therapy can change their sexual orientation. For instance, Christians believe that homosexuals can change based on a passage from 1 Corinthians: verse 6, 9-11. This view is false, because the scientific literature suggests that changing sexual orientation is either incredibly unlikely or impossible.

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Another argument used against gay marriage is the view that [[homosexual]]s, through [[faith]] in [[God]] and [[reparative therapy]] can change their [[sexual orientation]]. For instance, [[Christian]]s believe that homosexuals can change based on passages in {{bible|1 Corinthians 6, 9-11}}. This view is false, because the [[scientific]] literature suggests that changing sexual orientation is either incredibly unlikely or impossible.

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(Secular arguments against gay marriage are likely outside of the scope of this wiki.)

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See [[Wikipedia:Same-sex marriage]] for information about secular arguments against gay marriage, which are largely outside of the scope of this wiki.

Revision as of 14:53, 6 September 2007

Gay marriage refers to marriage between two people of the same sex. This is currently a controversial political issue in the United States and elsewhere.

Arguments for gay marriage

In July 2007, Austin Cline ran a poll on his weblog asking whether atheists should be allowed to marry.[1] Respondents overwhelmingly said that marriage is a civil institution, not a religious one (it should be kept in mind that this poll was posted on an atheist weblog, and therefore the distribution of respondents was certainly skewed).

Cline then draws the obvious conclusion:

"If religion isn't a good reason to prevent atheists from getting married, how can it be a good reason to prevent gays from getting married?"

Arguments against gay marriage

Both religious and secular arguments have been presented against gay marriage. It is notable, however, that most of the opponents of gay marriage—certainly the most vocal ones—present religious arguments, either alone or in addition to secular arguments. Rarely, if ever, does anyone present secular arguments alone. This leads to the conclusion that opposition to gay marriage is primarily rooted in religious beliefs. Arguments from religious beliefs fail as arguments since there is no evidence to suggest any holy book is true, and places like the United States have separation of church and state.